Marion County RECORD

From craft and livestock exhibits to rodeo, concerts, and a demolition derby, the 79th annual Marion County Fair July 29 through Aug. 1 at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro will have something for many tastes. A Saturday demolition derby is always a big draw, fair manager Stephanie Richmond said. It draws the most excitement and signifies the close of the fair.

Nobody knows where he came from but many Marion residents are familiar with him. He’s the big, black rooster that many people see on Main Street by Central Park and on the north side of Main Street. Typically, he can be found in the early morning hours, a favorite time for most roosters. He dodges traffic like a roadrunner, running in-between houses, eluding even seasoned animal catchers.

Hillsboro and Marion senior Babe Ruth baseball players will compete in a pair of double-elimination tournaments Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for spots in a state tournament. Marion will present two district tournaments because some districts didn’t have any senior Babe Ruth teams, organizer Casey Case said.

In one of the shorter meetings of the year, Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education unanimously re-elected Chris Sprowls as board president Monday. Board member Lyle Leppke was absent.

A lease-to-own technology package costing $53,907 over three years, with no interest charged, was approved Monday by Centre USD 397 board of education. The package includes a Mac server and 27 laptop computers with a cart. The computers will replace those used by fifth and sixth graders for several years. The existing computers will be moved to the elementary school for use by students on the first floor.

Boy Scout Troop 102 returned to Marion Saturday after a week of camp, and scouts and leaders said it was a good week July 5 through 11. Weather was pleasant for the week at Quivira Scout Ranch near Sedan, troop committee member Caroline Kelly said. The troop took 11 scouts on the trip.

You only have one colon. And you have to take care of it. There is a group of medical students from the University of Kansas School of Medicine who is spending the summer doing a colorectal cancer prevention assessment.

After setting empty for years, a former nursing home in Florence will have new life. David Weseloh of Midland, Texas, recently purchased the building from Red Brick Properties LLC. He plans to renovate the building, calling it Sunshine Residential Center, to become a hotel that caters to senior citizens.

Former Florence resident Frank V. Bailey, 81, of Sedan, died July 13 at Pleasant Valley Manor in Sedan. Born July 15, 1927, in Emporia, to Ora L. “Pop” and Iona (Mast) Bailey, he attended school in Emporia, and lived in Roswell, N.M., Marion, and Florence.

Ruth M. Goentzel, 93, of Hillsboro died July 13 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. Born Feb. 1, 1916, to Pete and Mary (Goertz) Goentzel, she was a candler in the milk and egg departments of Tip Top Dairy of Hillsboro.

Money was a topic that took the most time for Marion City Council to discuss Monday evening, particularly when it came to appropriating funds in the 2010 budget. In the past, the city had given Marion Chamber of Commerce $7,000 per year because the chamber took care of city tourism. This year, the chamber was asking for an additional $5,000, for a total of $12,000.

After more than two hours of discussion between seven mayors, the county commission, the county economic development director, and City of Marion officials, it appeared to boil down to some members of Marion County Economic Development Council questioning their roles in the organization. At the end of the Thursday evening meeting, it was determined a bylaws committee of MCEDC members should be formed to make any changes.

Architects met with Marion County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Center Committee to obtain information for the design of a new jail Tuesday. Marion County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Center Committee met Tuesday with architects to discuss jail issues in a preliminary interview.

Water tests at the former Marion County landfill have returned satisfactory results, Jack Chapelle said Monday at county commission meeting. Chapelle, of Engineering Solutions & Design, said wells at the bottom of the slope on the site showed the same results as wells at the top of the slope. That indicates the landfill has not affected water quality.

As I was sitting at a meeting Thursday night, listening to the county commission, seven mayors, a couple of Marion city officials, and the county economic development director discussing, and at times debating, the functions and activities of Marion County Economic Development Council, I thought to myself, “How did this situation get to this point?” What seems like many years ago, but actually only six, I attended MCEDC meetings as a City of Marion representative. I was always impressed with the cooperation and camaraderie among the cities — large and small. We celebrated each other’s triumphs, many times other cities being a part of that success. We rolled up our sleeves and did what we could to help each other’s communities. When there were events, we volunteered or returned to our communities to find volunteers to help.

I guess it’s just in my nature to want to know the answers to burning questions such as “What is the meaning of life?” and “Where does that darn rooster go during the day?” Many city residents, including me, have noticed a beautiful, black rooster with a red beard and top-knot frequenting Central Park and the residences across from the park on Main Street.

LETTERS:

COLUMNS:

It has been approximately 20 years since I was the Aulne correspondent. However, after our recent trip to Kansas, June 12 through 14, you might say I was “inspired” to share some of our trip’s highlights. It’s difficult to think of ourselves as outsiders. No matter where we are, as it is said, home is where the heart is. Marion will always hold a very special place in ours.

Each weekend some tents can be found among the recreational vehicles at Marion Reservoir and Marion County Park and Lake. Tents and RVs have proponents, and they have reasons for their choice.

Kansas boaters are advised to pay special attention to life jacket requirements this boating season, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). “We plan to take a zero-tolerance approach to life jacket violations this year,” said Dan Hesket, KDWP boating law administrator. “Our sole purpose is to reduce fatalities on our waters and create a safer environment for all boaters.”